B-5 – Area 5 - Assessment of Environmental Effects 37 the time. The river reach adjacent to Area 5 (and the wider WNP footprint) is not subject to the WRP ‘Contact Recreation’ Water Management Class. Use of the Ohinemuri River for kayaking is infrequent at Waihi because the river is too narrow. Kayaking is more common from Owharoa Falls at Waikino (9 km downstream of Waihi) and then through the Karangahake Gorge. The gorge is an “immensely popular” kayaking location. The Ohinemuri River is one of the most popular angling rivers in the Waikato Region, with excellent access and a good population of both rainbow and brown trout. Fish & Game New Zealand describe the Ohinemuri River as “…one of the most popular rivers in the region with excellent access and a good population of both rainbow and brown trout… Near Waihi, the Ohinemuri offers long runs with the occasional large, stable pool. During summer, trout can easily be spotted providing good dry fly or spin fishing… The most popular section of the Ohinemuri, and probably the most productive, is the Karangahake Gorge between Paeroa and Waihi”4. In the 2014 – 2015 fishing season, the Ohinemuri River was the sixth-most popular river fishery in the Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game region (after the Whanganui, Waikato, Whakapapa, Waipa and Waihou Rivers). 2.18 METEOROLOGY AND AIR QUALITY A description of the air quality, meteorology and climate of the area is provided in Beca (2022), a copy of which is provided in Part H of these application documents. Meteorological data recorded at OGNZL’s Barry Road climate station between 2013 and 2019 reveals that the prevailing, strongest winds are from the west and west-southwest. Secondary winds are from the northeast. The average wind speed recorded since 2013 is 3.43 m/s. Calms occur for 10.82 % of the time. Wind speeds > 5 m/s - which lifts dust from unconsolidated surfaces – occurred approximately 26% of the time. Wind speeds are highest in spring and lowest in autumn. NIWA data indicates that Waihi’s long-term average annual rainfall is approximately 2,110 mm. The lowest annual rainfall recorded was 1,265 mm, in 1919. The highest annual rainfall was 3,235 mm, recorded in 1928. 4 Fish & Game New Zealand 2021, Coromandel Ranges Trout Fishing viewed 14 September 2021, < https://fishandgame.org.nz/assets/Uploads/Coromandel-Ranges-Trout-Fishing.pdf >.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjE2NDg3